About

Humble beginnings

From its humble beginnings in a small office with 2 part time staff working solely on one project (Elders Project), Hamara has grown to be the largest ethnic minority organisation in the voluntary and community sector in Leeds.

Based in a purpose developed £1.2 million centre in Beeston, Hamara stands out as a beacon within the community and voluntary sector and its success has inspired many other organisations to emulate its achievements.
Working primarily (but not exclusively) with the South Asian community and now employing over 20 staff, Hamara currently deliver several different strands of work.

Information and Advice, Health Promotion / Education, Older People’s Services, Learning Disabilities, Women’s Activities, Sports and Exercise, Youth Services, Community Cohesion and Training Programmes are all key facets of its work.
The organisation is regarded as a model of good practice both within its sector and by many statutory agencies in Leeds – a fact verified by the contracts it has been awarded by Leeds City Council, NHS Leeds and Social Services to name a few of the many partners Hamara currently works with.

Its strategic aim of becoming the key player within the sector in the community in Leeds has been considerably enhanced by the merger with both the Milun Centre and Hooner Kelah over the past year. These two well established community organisations which have been serving the community for over twenty years now form part of the ever expanding Hamara Group and the organisation has no intention of resting on its laurels.

Hamara is an urdu term meaning ‘OURS’ which reflects the community involvement in the planning and development of the project.